[Aldose reductase: physiological role, properties and prospects for regulating activity].

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Enzymology

Context:

• Aldose reductase (AR) is a crucial enzyme in mammalian metabolism.
• It plays a role in glucose utilization and detoxification of aldehyde compounds.
• AR is implicated in hyperglycemic conditions, such as diabetic cataract.

Purpose:

• To review the properties of aldose reductase from various sources.
• To explore the regulatory mechanisms of its catalytic activity.
• To propose a mechanism for the enzyme's catalytic effect.

Summary:

• Mammalian aldose reductases are monomeric enzymes (30-40 kDa) with broad aldose specificity.
• Enzyme kinetics show hyperbolic behavior with NADPH and non-hyperbolic with glucose.
• Activity is regulated by effector binding and substrate-induced activation, altering sensitivity to NADPH.

Impact:

• Provides insights into aldose reductase function and regulation.
• Highlights the enzyme's role in hyperglycemic pathologies.
• Contributes to understanding enzyme mechanisms for potential therapeutic targets.